US universities have cut 650,000 jobs, a 13 percent workforce reduction, since the onset of the pandemic
The Department of Labor published a striking report this month on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education. The report concluded that colleges and universities have cut a total of 650,000 jobs since February 2020, 13 percent of all higher education workers.
While the Department of Labor has not specified the types of jobs which have been cut, reports from university systems across the country demonstrate the damage done to university workers.
People walk in front of Wheeler Hall on the University of California campus in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Should You Consider Clear Masks and Other Accommodations for the Hard of Hearing?
At the end of January Nike agreed to a settlement requiring its California workers to be provided with clear masks. The settlement was reached to end a class action alleging that the company’s policy requiring store employees to wear masks prevents deaf and hard-of-hearing customers from reading employees’ lips.
The settlement requires that Nike provide clear masks to employees when they need to assist deaf or hearing impaired customers, but does not require clear masks at all times. The settlement also requires stores to carry clean pens and paper if a deaf or hearing impaired customer wishes to write their communications with employees. Finally, the settlement requires Nike to post signage outside its stores alerting customers about their right to access these accommodations.
Spiffy s Restaurant in Chehalis has refused to close despite restrictions on indoor dining. (Courtesy photo)
While the Department of Labor and Industries is getting, on average, 329 complaints a day about businesses defying Governor Inslee’s coronavirus restrictions, only a handful of businesses statewide have actually gotten to the point of incurring fines.
Complaints come in concerning businesses that are open in defiance of the governor’s orders, that are providing prohibited services, or that are not correctly following the precautions. Many of those complaints are concerning the same few dozen businesses.
“I believe the total, since all of this began, is 40 to 50 businesses that we have received complaints on, and that we have moved forward to cite and fine them,” said Tim Church, communications director for L&I.